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German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived at the White House Thursday afternoon for meetings, a press conference and a private dinner with President Joe Bidnen.  

'It's a pleasure to welcome Chancellor Merkel back to the White House, she's been in the Oval Office many times, she's a great friend, I consider her a personal friend as well as a great friend to the United States,' Biden said as they were seated side-by-side in the Oval Office. 'We saw each other at the G7 and then we saw each other again at the NATO meeting and today we're talking about further advancing the strong U.S.-German relationship, which is strong and staying stronger.' 

Merkel spoke through a translator and spoke about Germany's 'friendship with the United States of America.' 

'I'm more than aware of the contribution of America to a free and democratic Germany, so I'm very much looking forward to deepening relations yet again today,' she said. 

She said she and Biden would talk about Germany's 'immediate neighbors' and also 'political issues.'  

The two leaders are expected to talk about a number of thorny issues including the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that links Germany to Russian gas. The United States is wary of the project, as the Kremlin has used energy dominance to exert pressure on neighbors in the past.  

President Joe Biden (right) noted how German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) has been a frequent guest to the Oval Office, having been Germany's leader through four American administrations 

President Joe Biden (left) told reporters 'we're going to have plenty of time to answer questions' at a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) later Thursday afternoon 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is spotted arriving at the West Wing entrance to the White House Thursday afternoon for meetings, a press conference and dinner with President Joe Biden 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel isn't running for another term and Germany's election is in September, making it likely this will be her final White House trip as German leader 

A senior White House official said in advance of Merkel's trip that no formal announcement on the pipeline is expected to come from the talks. 

Russian cyberattacks are also supposed to come up.  

Merkel's spokesman confirmed Wednesday, according to the Associated Press, that she and Biden will also talk about China.  

The group Doctors without Borders also pressed Biden to push Merkel to change her position on vaccine patents, as Merkel, a scientist, is against lifting them. 

On Thursday morning, there was a protest in front of the White House - complete with a large Merkel puppet - asking the leaders to 'free the vaccine.' 

A senior administration official also said on a call Wednesday that Biden and Merkel would also discuss climate change, COVID-19 generally, Afghanistan and shoring up democratic institutions around the world. 

'The Biden administration has an over-arching goal of revitalizing the trans-Atlantic relationship, which includes increasing cooperation with NATO and raising the level of ambition with the EU, two goals that I think the president was able to make good progress on during his trip to Europe last month,' an official said.  

Former President Donald Trump was not a fan of NATO, complaining that the membership wasn't paying their fair share for the military alliance. 

Around 36,000 U.S. troops remain stationed in Germany and halted Trump's plan to withdraw forces.  

Earlier, Vice President Kamala Harris hosted Merkel for breakfast at her Naval Observatory home, marking the first time she's hosted a foreign leader at the residence. 

'We are pleased to welcome you Madam Chancellor and I know we are the fourth administration that you have worked with throughout your extraordinary career. want to thank you for your years of leadership,' Harris told Merkel outside the vice president's residence. 'I’m very proud that I believe that I am the first vice president to host you at the official residence of the vice president,' Harris added. 

The home at One Observatory Circle was under renovation when Harris was sworn-in in January, but she's used it more recently to host a staff barbecue following reports of a toxic culture brewing at the VP's office. 

Business Insider published a follow-up story quoting former Harris aides as they reacted to Politico's initial report that described, according to one source, the vice president's office as an 'abusive environment.'    

Vice President Kamala Harris (right) greeted German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) in front of her Naval Observatory home Thursday morning in advance of Merkel's bilateral meeting at the White House with President Joe Biden 

The working breakfast marked the first time Vice President Kamala Harris (left) has been able to host a world leader at the residence, which was under construction when Harris was sworn-in in January 

The reports haven't impacted President Joe Biden putting Harris front-and-center on a number of issues. 

She met with the delegation of Texas Democrats who fled the state earlier this week to stall a GOP-endorsed voting bill. 

And, as the administration has done in the past, she's played the role of greeter for a foreign leader visit, though at the beginning of her tenure she met with leaders virtually due to the pandemic and then at her ceremonnial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, while the Naval Observatory residence was under renovation. 

On Thursday morning, she and Merkel made brief welcoming remarks in front of the cameras.     

'I’m very honored to see you and I look forward to our conversation and it goes without saying that the relationship between our two countries is one founded on many shared values, including a commitment to democracy around the world,' Harris said. 'So, welcome, welcome.'    

'Please, let’s have breakfast, please,' Vice President Kamala Harris (left) told German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) as the two leaders met outside Harris' Naval Observatory home for a working breakfast 

Vice President Kamala Harris (left) greets German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) at her Naval Observatory home for a working breakfast Thursday before Merkel visits President Joe Biden at the White House 

Through a translator Merkel responded, 'I can only say that I’m delighted too for this opportunity here to meet the first Madam Vice President of the United States of America and I think that we can indeed cooperate very well in order to boost values.'   

'Please, let's have breakfast please,' Harris said, escorting the German chancellor into the home.   

The menu consisted of a gruyère soufflé, served with an arugula salad, featuring herbs from the residence's garden, along with fresh seasonal fruit. 

The leaders were also served fresh baked sourdough bread, prosciutto, salami, cucumber, as well as coffee and orange juice.  

Afterward a White House official said the two women had a 'wide-ranging and very candid discussion.' 

'Topics crossed both domestic and international issues including current challenges, history between the two counties and future endeavors,' the official said. 

The German embassy in Washington tweeted a photo of the two female leaders meeting simply labeling it, 'History.' 

Merkel's visit to the White House marks what's likely her last trip to the U.S. as the German leader with elections coming in September. 

Merkel is not seeking another term.  

Biden will host the chancellor for a private dinner Thursday night at the White House. 

Guests include former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who served under President Barack Obama, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who served under President George W. Bush. 

Additionally Republican Congressional leaders - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy - are on the guest list. 

Earlier Thursday, McCarthy is expected to meet with Trump at the ex-president's Bedminster, New Jersey resort, where he's spending the summer. 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who formerly served as U.S. ambassador to Germany, will attend, along with Rep. Gregory Meeks, Sen. Debbie Stabenow and a number of administration officials including Susan Rice, who served as Obama's national security adviser. 

While the dinner will take place in the State Dining Room it isn't considered an official state dinner.   

During her time in the United States, Merkel was also presented with an honorary doctorate, her 18th, from Johns Hopkins University and spoke at its School of Advanced International Studies.